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Nelsan Ellis who played Lafayette Reynolds in American TV series True Blood passed away aged 39 due to heart complications, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

Ellis' manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed the news Saturday morning. "Nelsan has passed away after complications with heart failure. He was a great talent, and his words and presence will be forever missed."

"We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis," HBO said in a statement. "Nelsan was a long-time member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly within the overall legacy of True Blood. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO."

True Blood creator and executive producer Alan Ball also expressed grief over the loss of the actor. "Nelsan was a singular talent whose creativity never ceased to amaze me. Working with him was a privilege."

Ellis' co-stars were deeply saddened by news of the actor's death.